County Building Permits
Cattaraugus County, NY - Unincorporated Area Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Cattaraugus County, New York. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of Cattaraugus County are administered by the town where the property is located, not the county. Cattaraugus County has opted out of code enforcement administration.
- Department
- Town Code Enforcement Officer (varies by location)
- Address
- Cattaraugus County Clerk, 303 Main Street, Little Valley, NY 14755
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Determine which town your property is located in using the Cattaraugus County municipal contacts directory.
- Contact the building code enforcement officer for that specific town.
- Submit all required forms and documents to the town code officer.
- Pay applicable fees to the town.
- Schedule inspections with the town code officer as work progresses.
Typical processing time: Varies by town
General Requirements
Building permits are required for most construction work in New York State under the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application (form varies by town)
- Construction plans and specifications
- Site plan showing property location and improvements
- Permit validity
- Varies by town
- Building code
- New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Conservation Construction Code
- Owner-builder
- Subject to state and local requirements; consult town code officer.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must comply with state and local licensing requirements.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Varies by town
- Plan check fee
- Varies by town
- Permit fee formula
- Varies by town
- Trade permit fee
- Varies by town
- Reinspection fee
- Varies by town
- Penalty (no permit)
- Varies by town
- Payment note
- Payment methods and surcharges vary by town
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Town Code Enforcement Officer (varies by location) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Scheduling deadline
- Varies by town
- Inspection hours
- Varies by town
- Time windows
- Varies by town
Typical inspection sequence: Governed by New York Uniform Code; specific sequence varies by town.
Varies by town
Additional Resources
- Building code: New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Conservation Construction Code
- County Clerk FAQ
- County Municipal Contacts Directory
- NY Department of State - Administration and Enforcement
- License lookup guide: New York Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: New York Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- New York hub: New York Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town Code Enforcement Officer (varies by location) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cattaraugus County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Cattaraugus County, NY?
- Building permits are required for most construction work in New York State under the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Cattaraugus County, NY?
- The minimum permit fee is Varies by town. Fees are calculated as: Varies by town. Plan check fee: Varies by town.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Cattaraugus County, NY?
- 1. Determine which town your property is located in using the Cattaraugus County municipal contacts directory. 2. Contact the building code enforcement officer for that specific town. 3. Submit all required forms and documents to the town code officer. 4. Pay applicable fees to the town. 5. Schedule inspections with the town code officer as work progresses.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Cattaraugus County, NY?
- Typical processing time is Varies by town.
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